School is Back in Session, Reduce Tragedies and Drive Carefully

For many students, spring break is over and they are heading back to school. Among the normal traffic and congestion there will be more school buses and walkers heading for their educational destination. AAA Tidewater cautions motorists to be aware of the change in traffic and watch out for children.

AAA offers the following advice for motorists:

1. Slow down. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

2. Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars.

3. Reverse responsibly. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up.

4. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Get evidence-based guidance and tips at TeenDriving.AAA.com.

5. Come to a complete stop. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

6. Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that they wear a properly-fitted bicycle helmet on every ride. Find videos, expert advice and safety tips at ShareTheRoad.AAA.com.

As part of North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA Tidewater Virginia provides its more than 325,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding AAA Tidewater Virginia has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. For more information, visit AAA.com and follow them on Twitter or on Facebook.

You can also find helpful information about bicycle safety at this link.